Pheromone impregnated thong

ABSTRACT

An undergarment cloth having pheromone impregnated on a portion of the cloth is provided. In alternative embodiments, the pheromones on the cloth may be either estratetraenol or androstadienone. In one embodiment, the undergarment is a thong-type undergarment with a cloth panel having a peripheral edge that is shaped to cover a portion of a body of a person. The cloth may be a spun bound polypropylene non-woven material or other suitable material. A binding assembly such as an elastic band is attached to the cloth panel about the peripheral edge in a manner that supports the undergarment about the person&#39;s body. Preferably, the binding assembly is attached to the cloth panel with a zigzag stitch and may include embellishments such as marabou.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/565,470, filed Apr. 26, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to undergarments and more particularly to disposable undergarments such as thong-type underwear that are meant to be worn and tossed away.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Thong-type undergarments have become popular in recent years for a variety of reasons including an attractive, sleek look, minimum storage space and the like. When visiting a swimming pool, spa or gym, a person may desire to use a disposable undergarment such as a thong for use while at the gym or when leaving the gym. More recently such thong-type undergarments have been designed of inexpensive material so that they can be used once and then tossed away. These inexpensive materials include nylon and other plastics.

In another field of scientific research, the use and manufacture of pheromones for insects, animals and humans has been studied. Pheromones are chemical substances released through sweat glands to cause a change in the reproductive behavior of a person. Pheromones can directly stimulate a man's or a women's sexual behavior through olfactory sensors processing information in the human body. Pheromones are detected through the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in the nose. The VNO functions as the distinct sensory apparatus that detects pheromones for humans. The pheromones, through the VNO, stimulate the hypothalamus center of the brain (i.e., the center of emotions in the brain). The pheromones send signals of sexual attraction and repulsion, kinship identifiers, or alarm signals. Products including animal and human-based pheromones are now being marketed and sold. These products include insect control solutions and perfumes for humans.

A need exists for an inexpensive undergarment that utilizes this research in pheromones to create new products with potentially interesting marketing advantages over existing disposable undergarments. The present invention provides a solution to these needs and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an undergarment cloth having pheromone impregnated on a portion of the cloth is provided. In alternative embodiments, the pheromones on the cloth may be either estratetraenol or androstadienone. In one embodiment, the undergarment is a thong-type undergarment with a cloth panel having a peripheral edge that is shaped to cover a portion of a body of a person. The cloth may be a spun bound polypropylene non-woven material or other suitable material. A binding assembly such as an elastic band is attached to the cloth panel about the peripheral edge in a manner that supports the undergarment about the person's body. Preferably, the binding assembly is attached to the cloth panel with a zigzag stitch and may include embellishments such as marabou.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a thong-type undergarment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a thong-type undergarment 100 having a main body cloth panel portion 106 and a binding assembly 102, 104 for securing the thong-type undergarment 100 about the body of a person. The cloth panel 106 is comprised of a single cloth having a peripheral edge bound by the binding assembly 102, 104 that is preferably an elastic band but may be selected from other types of materials. A second or rear cloth panel (shown with phantom lines 110) may be attached to the binding assembly. The rear cloth panel preferably is shaped to cover a rear body portion or buttock of a person. The cloth panels may be made from the same or different materials typically selected from materials suitable for undergarments such as cotton, knitted fabrics, synthetic materials, and the like. In one embodiment, spun bound polypropylene non-woven material is used for the cloth panels because such material is relatively inexpensive and it absorbs and retains pheromone solutions very well. It will be understood that the cloth panels may be continuous or may have design cutouts. Also, the cloth panels may have varying colors and designs.

The binding assembly preferably is extended past the peripheral edge 104 of the cloth panel 106 to form a loop or pair of loops 102 through which a person inserts their legs when placing the undergarment about the body. The loops 102 are closed at a first junction 112 where the combined loops form an extension (shown with phantom lines 110) that continues on to the cloth panel 106 at a second junction 108 so that the loops 102 are connected to the cloth panel 106 proximate the second junction 108. All or a portion of the binding assembly 102, 104 may be provided with different colors, designs, embroidered patterns, and the like to contribute to the overall appearance of the undergarment. Preferably, the binding assembly 102, 104 is attached to the cloth panel 106 with a zigzag stitch and may include embellishments such as marabou.

A pheromone is applied to the cloth panel 106 or other portions of the thong-type undergarment 100. Various types of animal or human pheromones can be used. In one embodiment, an estratetraenol pheromone solution is impregnated in the cloth panel 106 of the undergarment 100 so that men who are particularly sensitive to estratetraenol more favorably respond to a person wearing the pheromone impregnated undergarment. In an alternative embodiment, an androstadienone pheromone solution is impregnated in the cloth panel 106 of the undergarment 100 so that women who are particularly sensitive to androstadienone more favorably respond to a person wearing the pheromone impregnated undergarment. Such favorable response may include: (i) a heightened awareness of the person, (ii) a sense of well being around the person, or (iii) sexual attraction to the person wearing the pheromone-impregnated undergarment.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements (e.g., the particular pheromone used on the undergarment) may vary depending on the particular application for the pheromone-impregnated undergarment while maintaining substantially the same functionality, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The teachings of the preferred embodiment pheromone-impregnated thong-type undergarment could readily be extended to other undergarments or clothing such as bikinis, g-strips, briefs, pants, shorts, slips, bras, T-shirts, or other lingerie without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. An undergarment comprising a cloth having pheromone impregnated on a portion of the cloth.
 2. The undergarment of claim 1 wherein the pheromone comprises estratetraenol.
 3. The undergarment of claim 1 wherein the pheromone comprises androstadienone.
 4. The undergarment of claim 1 wherein the cloth forms at least part of a thong-type undergarment, the thong-type undergarment comprising: a cloth panel being shaped to cover a portion of a body of a person and having a peripheral edge; a binding assembly attached to the cloth panel about the peripheral edge and operatively configured to support the undergarment about the body.
 5. The thong-type undergarment of claim 4 wherein the binding assembly is attached to the cloth panel with a zigzag stitch.
 6. The thong-type undergarment of claim 4 wherein the binding assembly comprises an elastic band.
 7. The thong-type undergarment of claim 4 wherein the binding assembly comprises marabou extending along at least a portion of the peripheral edge.
 8. The thong-type undergarment of claim 4 wherein the cloth comprises a spun bound polypropylene non-woven material. 